- 1). Arrange to have a soil test conducted through your local county extension office. Dig a few samples of soil around the site, according to the soil test's instructions. Once the sample is processed, the test will reveal the nutrient level of the soil and prescribe the proper amount of fertilizer to encourage new growth in the area.
- 2). Remove any large wood chips--the result of stump grinding--from the planting site. Sawdust and small chips can be left behind to feed the soil. Set the large chips aside to use later as mulch. However, if your tree died of unnatural causes, it's best to remove as much of the residual stump as possible.
- 3). Irrigate the area around the tree with 1 to 2 inches of water. Moistening the soil will make it much easier to dig.
- 4). Loosen, turn and mix the top 10 inches of soil in the area that you intend to plant using a shovel or hand tiller. Remove any large tree root pieces that you encounter.
- 5). Spread commercial garden soil over the area to even the soil level and fill in any deficits left behind when the tree was removed.
- 6). Add fertilizer to the soil following the recommendations of your soil test and the fertilizer manufacturer's instructions.
- 7). Add your desired plants, and water them appropriately.
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